Pierrot stared--‘That is very strange! Up here we have always believed the reverse of that. And with good reason. Look for yourself!’ and he led me to the edge of the Moon; we peered over, and there, far below, was the great shining World, looking as big as ten Moons, and a hundred times madder and merrier.
‘Pierrot,’ I cried, ‘I have mis-judged the World! Good-bye, my friend!’ and I leaped into space.
I landed on the roof of the Headquarters of the Society for the Extension of Commercial Careers for Women.
A certain rich man, having discovered a new method of adulterating milk for babies, determined to celebrate his increase of fortune by giving a wonderful Fancy-dress Ball and masked Carnival.
When the evening came, the scene was a very brilliant one, the masks and costumes being of a most varied and extravagant character. About midnight, a new figure was noticed moving slowly among the crowd, a tall figure dressed in a long black cloak with a cowl, which overshadowed a grinning ghastly Death’s Head. This extraordinary costume caused much comment; some of the more timid guests objected to it, but the majority found it entertaining and wondered who the wearer might be.
At one o’clock, prizes were to be given for the best costumes. Amid general applause, the Master of the Ceremonies handed the first prize to a lady dressed as Madame de Pompadour. He then cried loudly: ‘The second prize goes to the gentleman who has come in the character of Death.’
All eyes were turned upon the strange figure, which stepped forward and said in a loud voice: ‘I cannot accept the prize. I have won too many prizes.’
This occasioned some remark, but the prize was given elsewhere, and in a few minutes the distribution was at an end.
Then the Master gave the signal for all masks to be removed, and the guests regarded each other with flushed and happy faces. There was one exception however, and the master called loudly to Death’s Head, who stood somewhat apart from the rest: ‘Sir, remove your mask.’
The figure pulled back the cowl, exposing its horrible grinning head to the light, then turned slowly as if to survey every person in the room.
HOW I MET WITH A FAMOUS CHARACTER IN A CAFÉ
Sitting in a large café, one day, I saw the strangest sight. For an old man, a wretched, dusty, unkempt dotard, entered at the far end, and shuffled swiftly along the room. And as he passed the little tables, the crowds of women there smiled on him, threw him flowers, tried to seize his hand, and endeavoured in a hundred ways to attract his attention and win his regard.